Press Reviews and Interviews
— Ben Ratliff, New York Times. Read full review.
"This powerful and well-stocked ensemble juxtaposes postwar big-band conventions with ideas borrowed from indie rock, classical Minimalism, and a handful of other idiomatic regions. The results are well worth hearing."
— Nate Chinen, New York Times. Read full listing.
"Clearly some of the most ambitious and compelling sounds I’ve ever encountered in the past 40 years."
— Juan Rodriguez, Montreal Gazette. Read full review.
"Inspiring."
— Ethan Iverson, pianist, The Bad Plus. Read original post.
"It was like hearing Duke Ellington and minimalism and Tortoise and Funkadelic and Elliott Carter and much else besides melding into one floating, shifting, dodging music."
— Carl Wilson, zoilus.com. Read original post.
"Darcy James Argue is a bright young mind in jazz."
— Josh Jackson, WBGO Radio. Read original post. Listen to interview.
Top Live Shows (Time Out NY)
"Lucky for us, there's always been a handful of artists willing to tilt at windmills, intoxicated by a large ensemble's broad palette and dynamic heft. The latest leader to create a stir downtown is Darcy James Argue."
— Steve Smith, Time Out New York. Read full article.
"Darcy James Argue's music delights in the anachronism of the big band in a post-punk musical environment."
— Frank J. Oteri, New Music Box. Read feature and/or view video. Read full interview.
"Listen Up!" feature in All About Jazz New York.
"A talent of the first order, already on a par with his mentors Maria Schneider and John Hollenbeck."
— Peter Matthews, Feast Of Music. Read original post.
“When you listen to the music you are transported to a sinister yet beautiful world, a past that never was.”
"Sam Sadigursky blew a passionate solo over a rhythm section that has become scarily good; the climax captured the cinematic sweep of Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays, all sunburst, breeze and melting joy.
[…]
"Argue's charts are smart and tuneful, tough on players, and incredibly gracious to listeners. And some bright publisher should be pushing his compositions to college jazz bands -- hard. I know I'd have killed to play music like this."
— Steve Smith, Night After Night. Read full review (scroll down).
"Darcy James Argue's big band skillfully realizes the leader's mature, emotive compositions and thick arrangements."
— Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York.
"It was very good. I didn't care for the composer's commentary, though. He seems pretty angry about some of the things going on in the world and in my opinion is spending too much time searching for the bad stuff."
— Terri's Music Blog. Read original post.
“Darcy James Argue has developed an experimental yet accessible voice as a composer. His gifts are outstanding.”
— Bob Brookmeyer, composer
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